Bridging apparatus

ABSTRACT

A bridging unit for use in bridging apparatus for traversing a bridging zone, the bridging unit including a stowage housing which in use is disposed to one side of the zone, a spanning assembly operatively mounted to the stowage housing for movement between a stowed position and a deployed position in which it at least partially traverses the bridging zone in an elevated position, and deployment means operable to cause movement of the spanning assembly between the stowed and deployed positions.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 USC 371 to InternationalApplication No. PCT/AU2003/000795, filed on Jun. 25, 2003, which claimspriority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PS3177, filedon Jun. 26, 2002, and to Australian Application No. 2002951935, filed onOct. 9, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

Crossing roadways can subject pedestrians to serious risks of injury ordeath. Ground level pedestrian crossings reduce these risks but there isremains the possibility of pedestrians being injured by vehicles.Bridges and tunnels for traversing roadways have been proposed but theseare often expensive and complicated structures. Additionally, suchbridges and tunnels are fixed structures.

The present invention seeks to alleviate one or more of theaforementioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided abridging unit for use in bridging apparatus for use in traversing abridging zone, the bridging unit including a stowage housing which inuse is disposed to one side of the zone, a spanning assembly operativelymounted to the stowage housing for movement between a stowed positionand a deployed position in which it at least partially traverses thebridging zone in an elevated position, and deployment means operable tocause movement of the spanning assembly between the stowed and deployedpositions.

In one preferred form of the invention two bridging units are provided,each being of the type described above with the stowage housings of eachunit being disposed on respective opposite sides of the bridging zone,the arrangement being such that when the spanning assembly of each unitare in the deployed position they operatively connect to one another.

The stowage housing of the unit may include a housing body having acompartment therein for at least partially receiving the spanningassembly therein when in the stowed position. The housing body may begenerally a box-like structure which includes peripheral side walls anda top wall. The top wall may form a platform from which the spanningassembly is accessed when in the deployed position. Anchoring means maybe provided for anchoring the stowage housing to the ground or othersurface upon which it is supported. The stowage housing may be storedunderground while in the stored position so as not to hinder regularpedestrian and other traffic, and may be raised to an above-groundposition when ready for deployment.

The apparatus may further include access means for enabling access tothe platform which forms part of the stowage housing. The access meansmay be operatively mounted to the stowage housing for movement between astowed position and a deployed position. The access means may be in theform of a stairway, ladder, ramp assembly or like means.

Operative mounting for the access means may be in any suitable form,such as for example hooks or pivotable mechanisms. Deployment means forthe access means may include extensible means such as hydrauliccylinders, screw jacks, cables and winch mechanisms, and the like.Deployment means may be powered by energy storage means such asbatteries, or from mains power. Power supplies may drive deploymentmeans through actuating means such as hydraulic or electric motors.

One preferred embodiment of access means may include a capsule suitablefor use with, for example, wheelchairs or less mobile people. Thecapsule may itself be accessed by openable closure means in a peripheralwall of the storage means. Ramps to the capsule may be provided, as wellas extra room for a carer who may assist with access by using a codedcard. The capsule may be transferred to the platform via elevating meanssuch as rams or chain and sprocket mechanisms, or the like.

The spanning assembly may include a path section and a passage sectionwhich in the deployed position are disposed in end to end relation andin the stowed position are disposed side by side, the two sections beingmovable relative to one another between the stowed and deployedpositions. Preferably, when in the deployed position the passage sectionextends from the stowage housing with one end adjacent the upper wallthereof, the path section having one end located adjacent the other endof the passage section. The passage section may be in the form of aninclined stairway and the path section a generally horizontal supportwhen in the deployed position. The spanning assembly may be constructedfrom any suitable material, such as for example high tensile aluminium.

In order to promote wheelchair access to the path section, the passagemay include additional traversing means for the capsule. The capsule maybe drawn across the platform and operatively connect to the passagesection traversing means. This means may take the form of a motorisedchain and winch system to draw the capsule up to the path, where accessto the path may be effected through an openable closure in one wall ofthe capsule.

In one preferred form, when the passage and path sections of thespanning assembly are in the stored position they are disposed generallyside by side in a generally upright configuration within the compartmentor stowage housing. Preferably, one end of the two sections in theirside by side configuration is disposed adjacent a lower part of thecompartment. Movement of both sections may occur simultaneously, andinclude an initial linear movement so as to extend above the stowagehousing. A further pivotal movement of the two sections may cause themto adopt a position in which they are both inclined with respect to thestowage housing. A final combination of pivotal and linear movementbetween the two sections can cause them to adopt the fully deployedposition.

The deployment means for causing the aforementioned movement of the twosections may include a series of winches and cables, and gearingmechanisms. For example, a winch and cable assembly may be arranged tocause the first mentioned movement described above. The two sections maybe adopted for pivotal movement about a pivot mounting in order to adoptthe inclined positioned referred to above and a rack and pinion assemblymay be provided to cause movement of the sections into the finaldeployed position. The pivotal movement may be initiated and controlledby an extensible means such as a hydraulic cylinder or viscous damper.Where viscous dampers are used in this application, a retractingmechanism may be required to take the path and passage sections from thedeployed to the stowage position.

Traffic-control means may be provided, in order to ensure the maximumload is not exceeded on the spanning assembly. This may take the form ofsafety lights and/or boom gates which may be actuated by load cells onthe spanning assembly. For example, load cells may determine the load onthe spanning apparatus, and the safety lights glow red when the loadcells detect a certain load quantity.

A cover means may be provided, in order to improve safety of bridgingunit users and those below the spanning assembly, such as passing cars.This may take the form of a collapsible screen, which may form wallsand/or roof of the spanning assembly. The cover means may be perforatedin order to reduce wind loading.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings, and in those drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus of thepresent invention,

FIG. 2( a) is a plan view of a bridging unit of the apparatus in thestowed position, while FIG. 2( b) shows a side elevation view of theaccess means of the unit in both storage (i) and deployed (ii)positions,

FIG. 3( a) shows an elevation view of the spanning assembly of the unitin a stowed position,

FIG. 3( b) parts (i), (ii) and (iii) shows similar views of the spanningassembly in various intermediate positions between stowed and deployedpositions,

FIGS. 4( a), (b) and (c) show an elevation view of the spanning assemblyshown in FIG. 3 in intermediate positions during deployment,

FIG. 5( a) shows a penultimate stage of the spanning assembly beforefinal deployment,

FIG. 5( b) shows the spanning assembly in its final deployed positionalso operatively connected to a corresponding assembly of anotherapparatus,

FIG. 5( c) is an end view of the path section, showing the location oftelescoping strengthening sections,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus with the passage and pathsections deployed, showing a second access means, being a capsule forwheelchair access in the ground-access position,

FIG. 7( a) is a similar view, showing the capsule, having been elevatedto the platform, and traversing over to the base of the passage. FIG. 7(b) shows a front elevation view of the apparatus which allows traversingacross the platform, and

FIG. 8( a) is a side elevation view of FIGS. 6 and 7, showing thecapsule in ground-access position, and, in FIG. 8( b), at the top of thepassage, ready to egress to the path section.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a bridging apparatus accordingto the present invention generally indicated at 10. The apparatusincludes two substantially identical bridging units 12 and 14, eachincluding a spanning assembly 15 movable between a first stowageposition (FIG. 2( a)) and a second deployed position (FIG. 5( b)). Theapparatus will hereinafter be described with reference to bridging unit14, which includes a stowage housing which includes a main body 58having a base wall 48 and top wall 46, opposed end walls 40 and 42 andopposed side walls 26 and 44. As best seen in FIG. 2( a) the main bodyis separated into two compartments 51 and 53 by dividing means 57.Openable closure means in the form of doors 32 are provided in wall 42.

In the stowage position shown in FIG. 2( a), the spanning assembly 16 isdisposed within compartment 53. The unit further includes a first accessmeans 16 which in the form shown is a flight of stairs 55 movable fromthe stowage position to the deployed position shown in FIG. 2( b). Theflight of stairs 55 includes pivot 64 which allows the rotation of thestairs 55 into deployed position. The flight of stairs 55 includes aframe 59, operatively connected to a plurality of stairs 52, additionalsupport means in the form of a collapsible handrail 50, and anextensible frame section 66 to which stairs 52 are also operativelyconnected. The control of extensible frame section 66 is achieved byscrew jack 54. An extensible control means in the form of a hydrauliccylinder 30 also forms part of the elevating means 34, for the purposeof assisting in the deployment of the access means 34. The hydrauliccylinder is pivotally connected to the elevating means at 60 and to themain body 58 at 56.

Anchoring means 27 are provided in the form of extensible beams 28 forthe purpose of securing the main body 58 to the ground. Anchoring means27 may be caused to be positioned in a stowage position or a deployedposition, or therebetween. While in the first stowage position,anchoring means 27 are disposed within the main body 58, and extend fromthe main body upon deployment.

The spanning means 15, includes a passage section 18 in the form of aflight of stairs 74 and a traversing path section 20 in the form of asupport 76 both of which are disposed within compartment 51, when thedevice 14 is in the stowage position (shown in FIG. 3( i)). An elevatingmeans 81 in the form of a winch 80 and cable 78 drawn around pulleys 82and 84 is arranged so that the cable 78 is operatively connected topassage section 18 and forms part of the deployment apparatus of thepassage section 18. The traversing path section 18 and passage section20 are operatively connected, enabling both to be lifted simultaneouslyby elevating means 81. Further included in the deployment apparatus isextensible control means 71 in the form of hydraulic cylinders 70 and ispivotally mounted inside compartment 51 at 68 and 72.

Stop and pivot means are provided at 88, and pivot control means 86 areprovided in the form shown as a pin 87 and arcuate slider 89, all forthe purpose of allowing and controlling pivoting movement of passagesection 18 and path section 20.

Further control means are provided for the deployment of path section20. In the form shown, extensible control means 95 in the form ofhydraulic cylinders 94 form one part of the control means. Other partsof the control means are in the form of roller device 96 and slider/pindevice 92. Adjacent the roller device is a sprocket and drive shaft (notshown) to extend path means 20. To reduce load on drive shaft, sprocketand control means, a counterweight 90 is provided, operatively connectedto path means 20.

Path section 20 also includes telescoping deck and support sections 76,100 and 102, additional support means in the form of collapsiblehandrail 24, guidance means in the form of a laser device 104, andclamping means 106 for the purpose of connecting with correspondingsupport means deployed from the corresponding bridging unit 12.

Energy storage means are provided inside main body 58 and in the formshown are batteries 25. The batteries 25 power electric motors 38 whichin turn drive and control hydraulic cylinders 30, 70 and 94.

To deploy the apparatus from the stowage position the openable closuremeans 32 in wall 42 are opened and motor 38 extends hydraulic cylinder30, the outer pivotable end point of which extends from point 60 a to 60b. This action pivots the access means 16 about pivot 64. The screw jack54 then extends the frame section 66 until its outer point 62 reachesthe ground. The stair treads 52 are then folded into a substantiallyhorizontal position. The handrail 50 is then folded into position.Access is now available to the platform formed by the top wall 46 of theunit 14.

Anchor means 27 may be extended into cavities prepared in the ground,and the cavities may be filled with concrete or similar means (notshown) in order to secure the anchor means to the ground.

The passage section 18 and path section 20 are deployed through anopenable closure (not shown) in the top wall 46. Motor 38 rotates winch80 around which cable 78 is wound. Cable 78 is operatively connected tobase 77, and the base 77 of passage section 18 and path section 20 israised to pivot point 88. During this raising step, hydraulic cylinder70 is allowed to extend and the ends thereof allowed to pivot aboutpoints 72 and 68.

When base 77 has reached pivot point 88, the outer end of the hydrauliccylinder 72 corresponds with point 75. At this point the passage section18 and path section 20 are caused to pivot about point 88, and therotation is controlled by the controlled extension of the hydrauliccylinder 70 in conjunction with motor 38, the passage of pin 87 throughslider 89, and the pivoting of end points 75 and 68. The rotation stopswhen pin 87 has traversed the length of slider 89 and the hydrauliccylinder is substantially collinear with points 77, 88 and 68.

Deployment of the path section 20 then takes place, with the motor 38extending hydraulic cylinder 94, rotating path means 20 about point 96until it reaches a selected angle. Drive shaft and sprocket (not shown)then rotate to extend the path means 20. Endpoint 98 on hydrauliccylinder 94 slides along track 92 until it reaches the end of the track92.

Telescopic path sections 100 and 102 then extend, and, using a guidancedevice 104 and clamps 106, section 102 is operatively connected with thecorresponding telescoping section of bridging unit 12. The handrail 24is folded into position.

Stairs 79 may be deployed at this stage, using a similar folding deviceas used in the access means 16.

The preceding steps have deployed an embodiment of the present inventionwhich has provided an elevated pathway over a bridging zone, whereinpeople may walk up a flight of stairs 52, onto a platform 46, up afurther flight of stairs 79, across a path support 20, and down theother side of a corresponding bridging device 12.

Each event in the deployment of the device may be completed by a switchthrown on a hand-held multiple switch device (not shown).

A second access means in the form of a capsule 116 is shown in FIGS.6-8. In these figures, a person in a wheelchair or less mobile personaccesses the capsule 116 via openable closure means in the form of doors132 and ramps (not shown). Transfer means in the form of hydraulic rams128 and guides 130 bring the capsule up to the height of the platform ortop wall 46. The capsule 116 then traverses the platform 46 on slidesand rollers 140 and is placed in position at the base of the passage 18.The capsule is then operatively connected to a further traversing meansin the form of motorised chain and winch system 150, assisted bystrengthened side beams 160. The capsule is delivered by the traversingmeans to the top of the passage and the person may exit the capsule andmove across the path section 20. Access by less able persons may beassisted by a carer, who may ride in the capsule, using a coded accesscard for access to switches, buttons, etc.

The apparatus described above refers to the particular application ofthe invention as a pedestrian walkway. It will be readily apparenthowever that the apparatus could take various forms for differentapplications. For example, the bridging apparatus could be designed foruse as a bridge for vehicles including heavy vehicles such as tanks andthe like. In such applications stairways would be replaced with rampsand additional strengthening may be required for such heavy dutyapplications. For example, in the case of pedestrian crossingslightweight materials such as aluminium may be suitable for use whereasfor more heavy duty applications steel may be required for use in theconstruction of the various parts.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modificationsand/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions andarrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of theinvention.

1. A bridging unit configured to engage with a like bridging unit fortraversing a bridging zone, the bridging unit including a stowagehousing in use being disposed to one side of the bridging zone, andincluding a housing body comprising a box-like structure having opposedperipheral walls, the box-like structure having a compartment thereinfor receiving a spanning assembly movable between a stowed position inwhich position the spanning assembly is disposed within the compartmentand a deployed position in which position the spanning assembly isdisposed outside the box-like structure so as to at least partiallytraverse the bridging zone in an elevated position, and deploymentapparatus operable to cause movement of the spanning assembly betweenthe stowed and deployed positions.
 2. A bridging unit according to claim1 wherein said housing body includes a top wall which forms a platformfrom which the spanning assembly is accessed when in the deployedposition.
 3. A bridging unit according to claim 1 including accessapparatus for enabling access to the platform, the access apparatusbeing operatively mounted to the stowage housing for movement between astowed position and a deployed position.
 4. Bridging apparatus includingtwo bridging units according to claim 1, the bridging units engaged toone another at outer ends of the spanning assembly.
 5. A bridging unitin accordance with claim 1 wherein the spanning assembly includes aplurality of spanning members or beams configured to deploytelescopically or extensibly into the deployed position in an elevatedposition.
 6. A bridging unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein ahandrail is operatively connected to the spanning assembly, the handrailconfigured to move between a parked position adjacent the spinningassembly, and an erect position in which position the handrail is spacedfrom the spanning assembly for gripping by users of the bridging unit.7. A bridging unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the deploymentapparatus includes an electric motor to deploy the spanning assembly. 8.A bridging unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the deploymentapparatus includes hydraulic arms to facilitate deployment of thespanning assembly.
 9. A bridging unit in accordance with claim 1 whereina power supply is provided to facilitate deployment of the spanningassembly.
 10. A bridging unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein ananchor is provided to anchor the storage housing to the ground.
 11. Abridging unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the storage housing isconfigured to be buried in the ground.
 12. A bridging unit according toclaim 1 wherein the spanning assembly includes a path section and apassage section which in the deployed position are disposed in end toend relation and in the stowed position are disposed side by side, thetwo sections being movable relative to one another between the stowedand deployed positions.
 13. A bridging unit according to claim 12wherein when the passage and path sections of the spanning assembly arein the stowed position they are disposed side by side in a substantiallyupright configuration within the compartment or stowage housing.
 14. Abridging unit according to claim 13 wherein said passage section andsaid path section are operatively connected together for relativepivotal and linear movement and said passage section is pivotallymounted to said housing the arrangement being such that said passagesection is pivotally movable relative to the housing from the stowed tothe deployed positions and thereafter said path section is bothpivotally and linearly moved relative to the passage section so as toadopt its deployed position in which it is arranged generally end to endwith respect to the passage section.
 15. A bridging unit in accordancewith claim 1 wherein a cover is provided to cover the spanning assemblywhen in the deployed position.
 16. A bridging unit in accordance withclaim 15 wherein the cover is a perforated screen to reduce windloading.
 17. A bridging unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein atransfer apparatus is provided to transfer a person along or adjacentthe spanning assembly.
 18. A bridging unit in accordance with claim 17wherein the transfer apparatus includes a capsule driven by a hydraulicarm.